How can a battery save your business money in 2025? It might surprise you that beyond the obvious – by storing excess solar power to use once the sun goes down - there are several other ways a battery can financially benefit your organisation. In fact, investing in a commercial storage system can be a transformative business strategy, cutting costs, protecting operations, and opening new revenue streams. 

As  Australia’s top commercial battery installer in the 2024 SunWiz awards, we help commercial and industrial businesses go beyond solar to maximise value with tailored battery solutions. Here are ten ways a battery could transform your energy profile—and your bottom line in 2025. 

1.  Avoid Peak Pricing with Smarter Energy Use 

Electricity demand charges are the fees you pay to ensure the maximum amount of energy your business is likely to need at one time is always available for you. If your peak demand hits 500 kW for just 15 minutes in a month, you might be charged for that full 500 kW as your demand charge—even if your average use is much lower. It can massively bump up your electricity bill, with many businesses paying more than $20 per kW in peak demand costs each month 

A 100 kW site, for example, could save over $24,000 annually simply by shifting its energy use from peak times to off-peak periods using a battery. By storing low-cost solar or off-peak grid power, batteries offer a highly effective way to flatten your load profile—and your power bill. 
 

2.  Sidestep Costly Grid Upgrades 

If your business is expanding or upgrading equipment, the grid might not keep up. Transformer or switchboard upgrades can cost tens—or even hundreds—of thousands of dollars. A commercial battery can help you avoid these upgrades entirely by managing peak loads onsite. It’s a proactive, cost-effective way to grow without grid constraints.

3.  Maximise the Value of Your Solar 

Feed-in tariffs are no longer lucrative. In fact, sending excess solar back to the grid typically earns you next to nothing these days. Instead, batteries allow you to store your excess generation and use it later when energy prices are higher. This ensures you’re getting the full financial benefit from your solar investment. 

4.  Safeguard Against Blackouts 

Power outages can spell disaster for businesses with high operational sensitivity—think manufacturers, cold storage facilities, or data centres. Lost revenue, damaged stock, and disrupted workflows can quickly reach six figures. A battery system provides seamless backup during outages, keeping your operations running and your assets protected. 

5.  Reduce Scope 2 Emissions by Up to 40% More 

For businesses focused on ESG performance, batteries play a vital role. By enabling you to consume more of your solar energy onsite, battery systems can reduce Scope 2 emissions by 20–40% more than solar alone. This isn't just good for the planet – it's increasingly important for supply chains, for winning tenders and for appealing to climate-conscious consumers. We’ve helped customers like IKEA share the good news about their battery projects in the media and we’ve seen the warm reception they receive. 

6.  Create New Revenue Through Energy Trading 

Modern batteries don’t just store power—they trade it. Intelligent battery systems can automatically buy and sell energy based on market pricing, opening the door to revenue streams like Spot Market arbitrage and Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) trading.  

At Smart Commercial Solar, we are proud to offer our Smart Stack product to customers. It’s a battery platform designed to help businesses tap into these opportunities with ease, turning stored energy into a valuable, active asset. 

7.  Lock In Energy Prices and Manage Risk 

With wholesale energy markets becoming more volatile, long-term cost certainty is invaluable. A battery system combined with solar allows you to hedge against future price hikes, effectively locking in up to 90% of your energy costs vs. solar only, which typically covers 20-50% of energy needs. It’s a strong safeguard for your profit margins in uncertain times. 

8.  Replace Diesel Generators 

Diesel gensets are noisy, expensive to run, high-maintenance, and emissions-intensive. Batteries offer a cleaner, quieter, and often more cost-effective alternative for backup power. If you’re considering replacing or retiring a generator, a battery system can provide the same peace of mind with added sustainability and lower running costs. 

9.  Power EV Chargers, Day and Night 

For customer-facing industries like retail and hospitality, EV chargers are no longer just nice-to-have—they’re expected. Batteries allow you to store excess solar or off-peak grid power during the day, then reliably power EV chargers after hours without drawing expensive grid power. Whether you choose to allow charging for free to attract customers or decide to charge for the power and create a new revenue stream, having a battery makes EV chargers a more affordable asset to manage. 

10. Improve Power Quality Onsite 

As those of us who live on the fringe of the grid know, poor power quality leads to equipment faults, maintenance issues, and downtime—costs that quickly add up. Batteries help stabilise voltage, manage power factor, and protect sensitive systems from sags and spikes. This not only lowers ongoing maintenance costs but can also help you avoid financial penalties from the network provider. 

 Every business has a unique energy profile; we believe your battery strategy should reflect that. Whether you’re looking to cut costs, increase reliability, create a new revenue stream or meet emissions targets, our team will work with you to design a tailored battery system that supports your long-term success. 

Ready to unlock smarter savings with battery storage? 
Let’s have a conversation about what’s possible for your business.